RE-1 Valley Board of Education tables endorsed diploma discussion

Approves Sterling Middle School Promotion/Retention Plan for 2013-14 school year

Marty Smock is sworn into office by board secretary Kim Krier after being appointed to fill the District 6 seat on the RE-1 Valley Board of Education at Tuesday's business meeting. (Callie Jones/Journal-Advocate)

STERLING — The RE-1 Valley Board of Education welcomed a new board member during their business meeting on Tuesday. Marty Smock was appointed to fill the District 6 vacancy left by Dorcas Brekel.

Among the first items that Smock took action on was the endorsed diploma. The board voted 4-2 to table the topic until further notice. Smock and George Hernandez were the only no votes; Eric Windom was absent from the meeting.

The decision came after Superintendent Betty Summers presented possible dates in March for the community meetings regarding the endorsed diploma.

“I certainly believe in the long-term that there are benefits,” Myra Westfall said. “I'm not sure that all of those benefits at the state level have been identified or how they're going make some of those things happen.”

She pointed out there are strong emotions both for and against it, which is why she wanted to table it and regroup as the state finalizes their plan.

“With the end of the year coming, with different leadership, I think it would be appropriate to table it.”

Tona Felzien agreed.

“I do think there's a lot of emotion involved in this,” she said. “I think we're starting to get a lot of people that are just flat shutting down and I don't think that is going to benefit us when we're talking about the engagement piece.”

She commended the Response to Intervention (RtI) Committee and all the staff for all the work they've put into the endorsed diploma.

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“I do think that it has some great potential,” Felzien said. “It is not something I want to see us lose; it's not something that I'm saying we just throw by the wayside. I think we have to realize that there is a lot of knowledge and information there and we have got to step back and figure out how to get that knowledge and information out.”

Assistant Superintendent Ron Marostica noted that any benefits the district would have garnered as a pilot district, they won't have now.

He also pointed out that the part that was difficult for those that worked on this is they were “asked so many times, to do it again and again and again. They gave it there all; they spent weeks and weeks answering the same questions again and again and this decision could have been made.”

Westfall pointed out they want people to know the board recognizes there is some value in the endorsed diploma and the work that was done will be beneficial when they decide to look at it again.

“I think the one piece to keep in mind in that value is when you ask the professional staff to put a plan together, that consideration for the professional approach to what's good for kids does have true merit in making decisions,” Summers said.

Cody Engelhaupt pointed out that sometimes the board has to do things that the community doesn't agree with.

“Is this one of the things that we go forth and try to explain the best we can to the community? I don't know,” he said.

In other business, the board unanimously approved adopting a Sterling Middle School Promotion/Retention Plan for implementation during the 2013-14 school year, utilizing the 2013-14 Transitional Colorado Assessment Program (TCAP) results.

The plan was approved earlier in the day by the RtI Committee.

Sandy Underwood, Jana Lock and Lori Atkin, members of the SMS leadership team, presented the plan to the board.

Underwood pointed out that the promotion policy has no economic impact and can be implemented with no additional funding.

The policy focuses on points earned for academics, assessment and attendance.

“These expectations let students know exactly what they need for ultimate success,” Underwood said. “We believe this policy will increase academic achievement for all. It will also provide guidance to staff, parents, students regarding promotion and retention.”

In developing the policy, they looked at schools across Colorado with promotion policies, including Cortez, Windsor, Douglas County and Florence.

Students will be able to earn points in a number of ways.

They can earn one point in academics by passing three of their five classes. This is based on the two semester grades -- if they flunk one semester and got a D the next semester that would be considered passing, an F and a D- would not be passing.

Students can also earn one point on assessments by scoring at least one partially proficient on the TCAP.

Additionally, they can earn one point for 90 percent attendance, which allows for 17 days missed. Lock said they could probably easily get three points in that area.

Plus, students can receive a point for getting a C average in unified art classes.

For struggling students there are things in place to assist them, including the extended day, a den program for sixth graders and before and after school help.

It was also noted that extenuating circumstances will be taken into consideration by the promotion/retention committee.

The teachers will review the student's points with them during Tiger Time, when they review their grades and attendance.

One con that was pointed out is the possibility this may increase class sizes.

“We don't think there will be lots of kids staying back. We really think once they know what they need, there shouldn't be too many, but there could be some,” Lock said.

Among the pros is that it will help students would be more prepared for the next grade level, especially jumping from middle school to high school.

“This is such a nice, we believe, segue into credits at the high school,” Underwood said.

Principal Bob Hall has sent out two to three letters letting parents know this was impending. They also have a plan for grade level assemblies to inform students about what this entails. Plus, information will be posted on the school website and go into the registration packets next year.

Hall has also had a conversation with Campbell Elementary Dennis Klein. There will be a plan to talk to students in the coming days about what TCAP scores will mean for them next year and information will be shared when they tour SMS later this school year.

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